Don’t settle for an acceptable resume — you deserve the best. But what is the best resume template?
The best resume templates are easy to read, formatted appropriately and can pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) without a problem. Using the best resume template will keep you from writing a resume from scratch, giving you more time to focus on your job search.
Let’s review the best, highest quality templates on the market.
12 best resume templates
There are thousands of resume templates available, and only a handful would qualify as the best.
We’ve identified the top 12 best resume templates in our library. These premium designs are among the most popular, each one offering unique benefits to job seekers. However, if you’re looking for plug-and-play resumes for specific software programs, we also offer free downloadable Microsoft Word templates and Google Doc templates to use as you’d like.
Okay, let’s look closely at the best resume templates to use in 2023.
1. Patterns
Stylish and unique, Patterns is easily one of the most popular and best resume templates due to the colorful and engaging patterns on the left side of the page. Additionally, the template uses a striking Arial font to create a crisp, clean look and a colored box around the contact info to help it stand out.
This resume template is best for:
- Graphic designers
- Art directors
- Fashion designers
2. Excerpt
Another fun, eye-catching design that’s popular in creative career fields, the Excerpt template puts the candidate’s name in a quote bubble. The striking solid-color header is balanced by a simple, two-column layout. And, it’s easy to add more sections, such as an area to promote websites and portfolios.
This resume template is best for:
- Hair stylists
- Social media managers
- Illustrators
3. Unique
This commanding resume template is one of the best thanks to the crisp lines demarcating the contact info, job seeker initials and resume sections. The two-column design is very clean and easy to read. The judicious use of color in the header and left column ensure that the overall design really pops.
This resume template is best for:
- Nurse practitioners
- Drivers
- Software engineers
4. Timeless
For a change of pace, this one-column resume known as Timeless is a simple design that gives the candidate a lot of space to highlight their skills, work experience and professional summary. While the style is pared down, the header is centered and includes an insignia to accentuate the applicant’s name.
This resume template is best for:
- Business operations managers
- Paralegals
- Pharmacy technicians
5. Monogram
The Monogram is among the best resume templates because it combines professional and creative stylistic choices. In terms of creativity, the template sets contact information to the left side, giving it a splash of color for emphasis. Nonetheless, the remaining resume sections come with no frills, stacked one on top of the other on the right.
This resume template is best for:
- Art teachers
- Copywriters
- Dance instructors
6. Crisp
While this template is classic, it’s anything but boring with two stylistic choices helping it stand out. First, all of the information is centered, making it very easy to scan from top to bottom. Second, the candidate name and section headers are a different font style than the rest of the resume.
This resume template is best for:
- Human resources managers
- Communications specialists
- Pharmacists
7. Zinnia
Zinnia is another straightforward resume template that’s considered one of the best for its simplicity. Notice how the name and section headers are the same color and tie the page together. With the candidate’s name set to the left side of the page, this makes for a pleasingly streamlined style.
This resume template is best for:
- Accountants
- Office managerss
- Computer programmers
8. Logo
One of the best resume templates in the Modern category, Logo features a two-column layout with soft gray lines setting apart the header and section names. In the header itself, the octagon with the candidate’s initials is a particularly arresting stylistic flourish.
This resume template is best for:
- College professors
- Professional assistants
- Child care workers
9. Aster
This template keeps most of the page plain to help the splashes of color stand out. In addition to the color, the candidate’s last name is bolded, perhaps making it a little easier to remember for the hiring manager flipping through the stack. Aside from that flourish, Aster is a clean design.
This resume template is best for:
- Research assistants
- Authors
- Bank tellers
10. Olympic
One of our best resume templates, Olympic features the candidate’s name centered above a single-column design. Color is used sparingly to draw attention to the headers, and the line along the left-hand side of the work history and education sections makes it easy to see the job seeker’s career timeline.
This resume template is best for:
- Real estate agents
- Home health aides
- Store managers
11. Trendy
One of only two best resume templates with a candidate photo that made it to the top 12, Trendy offers an engaging, colorful two-column design. Rather than changing the color of section headers, this template uses shapes to spice up the white space and create a visually sophisticated design.
This resume template is best for:
- Actors
- Photographers
- Choreographers
12. Upgrade
We wrap up our 12 best resume templates list with one of the most straightforward designs. This template gives the classic one-column layout a modern twist. Using color to clearly mark the section headers and bold styling to highlight the job titles, this design offers a perfect forum for showcasing work experience.
This resume template is best for:
- Cashiers
- Hotel managers
- Food service workers
You will find many more resume templates if you make your document in our Resume Builder.
How to choose the best resume template
You may be thinking, “Okay, even if these are the best resume templates, how do I know which one is right for me?”
There’s no secret to choosing a template. You should pick the best resume template for the company and industry in which you’re seeking work.
When selecting a design, there are four primary resume template types to remember:
- Simple templates cut to the chase by showcasing a candidate’s work experience, skills and education in a clean, elegant design.
- Professional templates upgrade the simple template with stylistic choices that project an extra level of authority.
- Modern templates offer a contemporary spin on the resume with stylish fonts, judicious use of color and spacious layouts.
- Creative templates combine uncommon color and design choices to surprise and delight the recruiter.
Ultimately, you should choose the template type that works best for your career. For example, simple and professional layouts are ideal for highly professional fields like medicine and law, while more colorful templates will serve candidates looking for work in a creative field.
Just be sure to pair your best resume template with a cover letter.
Find the best cover letter template
Make your resume template look even better by including a matching cover letter template. Cover letters are great for setting yourself apart from similarly qualified applicants. Giving your resume and cover letter matching designs will make you even more impressive.
Here’s how to find and use an appropriate cover letter template:
- Choose a cover letter template that matches your resume.
- Make sure the cover letter formatting is also the same.
- Read a cover letter writing guide and review cover letter examples to ensure your content is stellar.
- Turn your cover letter into a PDF and merge it with your resume file.
FAQ
Whichever template you choose, we recommend setting it up in a reverse-chronological resume format. Among the three resume formats, chronological places the greatest emphasis on work history, recounting highlights from each job beginning with your most recent one. We suggest picking a template that’s appropriate for your industry, then reading the chronological resume format guide as you fill it out. That way, you’ll make the most of the template.
You’ll find some of the best free resume templates on our Microsoft Word template and Google Doc template pages. These free templates are colorful, well-designed and just as professional as anything you’ll see in a paid template. Simply download the Word Docs or open a Google Doc in your browser and customize it to your liking.
Employers prefer resumes with simple, easy-to-read designs. That’s why the chronological resume, which emphasizes work history above all else, is so popular with recruiters and hiring managers. They love to see a clear career trajectory, including the top achievements for each position, laid out in a concise fashion. While chronological is best for most people, a handful of job seekers would be better served by the alternative skills-based resume format, particularly candidates who lack a work history.
In 2023 a resume should be professionally designed and easy to read. The recruiter must be able to scan every section — work history, summary, skills — and understand the candidate’s selling point. The resume should also be formatted to bypass an employer’s applicant tracking system (ATS), which means not including any unusual design elements or funky fonts.
Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.
